Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Based on national benchmarks for electrical engineering technology programs, the debt picture looks manageable at roughly $12,000—about 22% of estimated first-year earnings. That ratio suggests graduates could realistically pay down their loans while building a career. However, the earnings trajectory raises questions: the four-year figure of $44,675 sits notably below the estimated first-year number of $54,852, which runs counter to typical wage progression in technical fields.

What complicates the assessment here is the wide gap between peer programs. Similar programs in South Carolina typically produce median earnings around $68,600, with Greenville Tech and Orangeburg Calhoun graduates earning in the upper $60,000s. That's roughly $14,000-$23,000 more than what comparable national programs suggest for HGTC graduates. Whether this reflects differences in regional job markets, employer partnerships, or program rigor is impossible to determine from estimates alone, but it's a spread that matters significantly for loan repayment and financial security.

For parents weighing this investment, the debt load appears reasonable, but the earnings uncertainty is substantial. If your child has options at Greenville Tech or can access programs with proven outcomes in the high $60,000s, those offer clearer value. If HGTC provides the most practical path due to location or circumstances, the estimated numbers suggest a workable—if not exceptional—return, assuming actual outcomes align more closely with the stronger South Carolina programs than with national averages.